Stereotype-printing-plate-casting apparatus.



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'PATENTED FEB. 17, 1903.1,

7 H. A. W. WOOD. STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATE CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4, 1898.

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No. 721,119. PATENTED PEB.1'7,1903. H. A. w. WOOD.

STEREO'I'YPE PRINTING PLATE CASTING APPARATUS.

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flA. WWood 3 Attorneyi No. 721,1 19. I PATENTED FEB. 17 1903.

/ H. A. W. WOOD.

STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATE CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLIOA'I'ION'IILEDMAR. 4, 1898. v .30 MODEL; .s sums-sum 'a.

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' '4 r A ttorneysg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

HENRY A. WISE WOOD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE CAMPBELLPRINTING PRESS & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK;

STEREOTYPE-PRINTlNG-PLATE-CASTING APPARATUS.

srncrrron'rron formingpart of Letters Patent No. 721,119, dated February17, 1903.

Application filed March 4, 1898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A.W1s W001), a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State 5 of New York,have invented a new and use'-- ful Stereotype-Primting-Plate-CastingApparatus,of which the following is a specification.

The aim of this invention is to produce an apparatus which will rapidlycast and deliver curved stereotype printing-plates, and is animprovement on the plate-casting mechanism shown, described, and claimedin my application for patent filed March 4, 1898,.Serial No. 672,549,patented of even date herewith.

r The object of this present invention is to improve and simplify theparts which cooperate to form the casting-chamber and to provide anindependent mechanism for automatically stripping the flexible matrixfrom the surface of the cast plate.

To these ends my invention consists of the parts and combination ofparts, as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out inthe claimsat the end of this specifica- 2 5 tion.

In the accompanying three sheets of drawings,Figure l is an end view ofan automatic plate-casting mechanism constructed according to myinvention. Fig. 2 is a central sec- 0 tional elevation of the same.Figs. 3 to 5, in-

' elusive, are transverse sectional elevations,

on an enlarged scale, illustrating the operation of my device; and Fig.6 is an enlarged elevation from the end opposite to that shown in Fig.l.

The machinev which is illustrated in the drawings, which show oneembodiment of my present invention, comprises a curved casting-chamberformed by the annular space between a rigid core on cylinder and amovable back piece or segment. A flexible matrix is mounted in suitablearms or frames, so as to lie against the back when the chamber isclosed. When the casting operation is com- 4 5 pleted, the castingchamber is opened, so that the back'is separated from the matrix in anysuitable manner, as by lowering the back, and a {stripper is passedbetween the surface of the matrix and the cast plate to remove thematrixfrom the cast plate, and

the edges of the core to close the ends of the Serial No. 6' 72,551- Nomodel.)

this stripper is also utilized to turn the cast plate around the surfaceof the core, so that the plate may be delivered from the castingchamberbefore the parts resume their originalposition in which the plate iscast. Referring to the drawings and in detail, A represents a suitableframing.

B represents the back; 0, the rigid core or cylinder, and S the stripperand remover; M, the flexible matrix, and P a cast plate.

The back B comprises a cylindrical body, which, with the core, willprovide the annular space forming the casting-chamber. The back B hasprojecting flanges b, which fit on 5 casting-chamber. The back B ispreferably chambered out, as at b, to provide a chamber through whichwater may be circulated by any suitable means during the castingoperation to keep the parts cool. On the framing suitable ways 12 areprovided, into which guides 11 on the back fit, and these parts are soarranged that the back may be moved toward the center of the core.

10 represents a driven shaft, on which are mounted cams 1313, which bearon' rollers 14 14, mounted on the shaft 15,.secured in the back, asshown. By this means the back will be raised and lowered. Also mountedon the shaft 10 is a bevel-gear ]6,which meshes with a bevel-gear 17,mounted on the shaft 18,which shaft 18, by means of bevel-gears 19 and20, drives cam 21. This cam 21 connects by a suitable connection havinga spring, as 22, to a lever 23, mounted on a shaft 24. Mounted on thisshaft 24 are suitable arms 25, which connect, by links 26, topiston-rods 27 of the pumping mechanism, substantially as shown anddescribed in my application for patent referred to. The pumpsare mounted.in a suitable tank or melting-pot 28, Whl(3l1 has a heater 29, and thepumps connect by spout 30 to the castingchamber. A clutch 300 is mountedon the end of the shaft 10, and by this means it will be seen that thecasting and pumping mechanism is controlled through this clutch. Asuitable driving mechanism, as tight and loose pulleys and suitablegearing, is arranged in the machine to impart power to the clutch 300,and thus to the shaft 10, substantially as described in the saidapplication for patent referred to. A worm 31 is also mounted on saidshaft 10, and the same meshes with aworm-wheel 32,which may connect to asuitable stopping mechanism,which may be arranged to stop the castingand pumping mechanism after any desired number of plates have been cast,as shown and described in my said other application for patent.

The stationary core or cylinder 0 has projecting arms orjournals33,which fitinto holes in the framing A and which are secured rigidly inplace by means of bolts 34. By this means the core is held stationary. Ashaft 35 is journaled in these extending arms 33. Journaled on theextending arms 33 are hubs 36, which carry arms 360, which support thestripper S. This stripper is made of a thin semicylindrical piece ofmetal and forms a hood, which extends over the core when the parts arein a normal position, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. A cam 37 ismounted near the end of the shaft 10, and the same will act to vibratethe pivoted segment 38 by means of roller 39, which fits into a slot cutin said cam. A pinion 40 is loosely mounted on the end of the shaft 35and is held in place thereon by collar 41. The pivoted segment 38inesheswith this pinion. The pinion 40 has an extending arm 42, whichcarries a springpressed pawl 43, which pawl is arranged to act on atooth mounted on a disk 44, formed on gear 45, which gear 45 is keyed tothe shaft 35,andby this meanstheshaft35 willbe turned at the propertime. The gear 45 meshes with a pinion 46, mounted on shaft 47, and onthe other end of this shaft is mounted a pinion 48, which engages a gear49, keyed to the lefthand hub 33. Mounted on the other end of the shaft35isagear 50,which meshes Withapinion 52, mounted on the shaft 53, whichalso carries a pinion 54, which pinion engages a gear 55, mounted on theother hub 36. By this means it will be seen that as the shaft 35 isturned the stripper S will also be turned in unison. Mounted on theshaft 35, inside of the core, are suitable cams 56, which bear againstrollers 57, mounted on shafts 58, which project through the core, asshown. These shafts 58 are mounted in suitable pockets 59, in which arearranged springs 60, which bear on shoulders 61 on said shafts and thebottoms of the pockets. This mechanism will act to start the plate fromthe core at the proper time. A catch or pawl 62 may be used to keep thestripper S in its normal position. The gearing before described willturn the shaft 35 and the stripper in unison and will then hold themstationary during the casting operation.

The matrix M is mounted in two suitable brackets or frames 64 and 640,as shown, the brackets 64 having a tapered ear 65, so that the strippercan easily enter between the same and the surface of the cast plate. Theframes that carry the matrix are supported by suitable shafts 66, whichare arranged in pockets 63, and springs are used to keep thematrix-carrying arms or frames normally against the surface of the core,these springs being arranged to bear on shoulders 67 of the shafts 66and against the bottoms of the pockets 63. The forward or entering endof the stripper is pointed somewhat, as shown at 69, so that the samewill easily enter between the matrix and the plate, and the other end ofthe stripper is formed with a false spout 70,-which when the stripper isin normal position will form a continuation of the spout 30, so that themetal willbe directed into the casting-chamber. The core is slotted nearthe top, as at 71, so that a suitable conveyer 72 may fit in under theplate and draw the plate from olf the surface of the core. This conveyer72 has a suitable pawl 74 for this purpose, this pawl being arranged sothat the same will be normally kept up by gravity. The conveyor also hasa rack 73 on the under side, by which the same may be operated by anysuitable gearing, as shown in my other application referred to. Suitableskids or ways 75 are arranged in line with the core, so that theconveyer may slide the plate laterally away from the casting mechanismonto the skids, so that the plate may be delivered to a suitablefinishing mechanism or to any other desired device or simply delivered.The bottom of the core is made somewhat larger than the top of the core,as shown, so that the plate can have the ordinary grooves cast thereinand so that the plate when relieved can easily turn around the surfaceof the core.

The operation of my device is as follows: The parts are shown in normalposition in Fig. 3 and with a plate as just east. After the plate hassolidified suificiently the back B will drop and the stripper S willstart in operation. The point of the stripper will force the frame 64away from the core. This will carry the matrix away from the edge of theplate, so that the point of the strippercan enter between the matrix andthe surface of the cast plate. As the stripper continues its revolutionit will nicely peel or strip the matrix from the surface of the castplate. When the end of the stripper contacts with the edge of the plate,the pins or shafts 58 in the interior of the core will start the platefrom olf the surface of the core, and the continued revolution of thestripper will turn the plate bodily around the surface of the core, thefalse spout of the stripper forming a protection which will push theplate around this way. It will be seen that the plate will beconstrained to move in this pathway, as the stripper will envelop thesame and will protect the matrix from being hit by the moving plate. Itwill be seen that the action of the stripper is substantially likea-knife passing between the matrix and the surface of the cast plate,and other devices and parts may be used to work in this way toaccomplish this result without departing from the scope of my inventionas expressed in the claims. By this mechanism I thus can Very rapidlyautomatically cast and deliver curved stereotype printing-plates.

It will be seen that the gearing on the left of Fig. 2 for driving thestripper is arranged below the center of the shaft 35, so that the platecan pass laterally out over the same. It will also be seen that thegearing on the right is arranged above the center, so that the ma trixcan be placed in the machine below the same.

My device is advantageous in use, because it has the advantages of astationary core, which does not have to be turned or moved, and in thatit is a device which will forcibly and easily strip the matrix from thesurface of the cast plate without any end strain or torsion being uponthe matrix.

\Vhile the apparatus herein shown is an organized machine operated bypower, it is obvious that my improvements can be employed in anapparatus or mechanism which is not driven by power without departingfrom my claims.

The details and arrangements herein shown and described may be greatlyvaried by a skilled mechanic without departing from the scope of myinvention as expressed in the claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination in a curved-stereotypeplate-casting apparatus of acasting-chamber formed by a core and a segmental back, with means forsliding or turning the cast plate around the core to remove the samefrom the casting-chamber.

2. The combination in acurved-stereotypeplate-casting apparatus of acore, and a segmental back, the annular space between the two formingacurved casting-chamber, means for moving the back relatively to thecore, and means for turning the cast plate around the surface of thecore, to remove the plate from the casting-chamber.

3. The combination in a stereotype-printing-plate-casting apparatus forcasting printing-plates from a flexible matrix, of the parts forming acasting-chamber, a stripper, and means for operating the parts, so thatthe stripper may pass in between the surface of the matrix and the castplate to strip the matrix from the cast plate.

4. The combination in a curved-stereotypeplate-ca'stingapparatus, of acore and a back, the annular space between the same forming a curvedcasting-chamber, means for supporting a flexible matrix in thiscasting-chamber, a stripper, and means for passing the stripper betweenthe matrix and the cast plate to remove the matrix from the cast plate.a. 7

5. The combination in a curvedsstereotypeplate-casting apparatus, of acylindrical core,

a segmental back piece, the annular space between the two forming acurved castingchamber, means for supporting a flexible matrix in saidchamber, a stripper mounted concentrically with the core, and means forturning the stripper around this center to remove the matrix from thesurface of the cast plate.

6. The combination in a stereotype-platecasting apparatus for castingprinting-plates from a flexible matrix, of parts cooperating to form acasting-chamber, a stripper having a projection to engage the end of thecast plate, and means for passing the stripper between the matrix andthe cast plate to remove the matrix from the cast plate, and to deliverthe cast plate from the casting-chamber. r

7. The combination in a curved-stereotypeplate-casting apparatus, of acylindrical core, a segmental back, the annular space between the partsforming a casting-chamber, a stripper mounted concentrically with thecore and having a projection, and means for passing the stripper betweenthe matrix and the cast plate to remove the matrix from the cast plate,and to turn to deliver the same her.

8. The combination in a curved-stereotypeplate-casting apparatus,of acore, a segmental back piece, theannular space between these partsforming a castingchamber, means for supporting a flexible matrix in thecastingchamber, a stripper mounted concentrically with the core andhaving a projection, means for passing the stripper between the matrixand the cast plate to remove the matrix from the cast plate, and to turnthe plate around the core to deliver the plate from the castingfrom thecasting-chamthe plate around the core w chamber, and means forslidingthe plate ing a casting-chamber, means contained within the corefor starting the cast plate from the surface of the core, and means fordelivering the cast plate from the casting-chamber.

10. The combination in a stereotype-platecasting apparatus, of astationary core, a movable back cooperating therewith, the annular spacebetween these parts forming a curved casting-chamber, the part of thecore outside of the chamber being undercut, means for supporting aflexible matrix in the castingchamber, a stripper having means forengaging the end of the plate, and means for passing the stripperbetween the matrix and the cast plate to removethe matrix from the castplate, and to turn the plate on to the undercut portion of the core todeliver the same from the casting-chamber.

11. The combination in a curved-stereotypeplate-casting apparatus,of acore, a segmental back piece having flanges adapted to engage the endsof the core, the annular space between these parts forming acasting-chamber, means for supporting a flexible matrix in thecasting-chamber, means for moving the segmental back to open and closethe castingchamber, and means for stripping the matrix from the surfaceof the cast plate.

12. The combination in an automatic stereotype-plate-casting apparatus,of a stationary cylindrical core, a segmental back, the annular spacebetween these parts forming a casting-chamber, means for supporting aflexible matrix within the casting-chamber, means for moving thesegmental back relatively to the core to open and close thecasting-chamber, a stripper, means for passing the stripper between thecast plate and the matrix when the casting-chamber is open, and meansfor my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

H. A. WISE WOOD. Witnesses:

HENRY W. COZZENS, J r., LOUIS W. SOUTHGATE.

